Magic Millions Day postponed on the Gold Coast
The marquee raceday on the Gold Coast — The Magic Millions — has been postponed after just two races following heavy rain in the lead-up and during the meeting.
The decision to delay the Gold Coast was made after the area received over 12mm of rain and continued to fall for the opening two races of the meeting, before officials decided the state of the track was becoming perilous for participants.
The Gold Coast Turf Club had earlier been forced to move the rail from the 400m to the 300m mark, after the discovery of a wet patch, which ultimately was the downfall of the Magic Millions meeting.
“Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) Stewards have postponed the Magic Millions race meeting at Aquis Park to prioritise the safety of animals and riders in poor conditions,” a QRIC media release read.
The ground staff at the Gold Coast Turf Club have got to be the biggest frauds on the planet. 0.2 mm of rain since 9am and less than 5mm over night after a week of perfect weather, yet the track is now a heavy 10. Embarrassing from all involved. #MagicMillions @goldcoast
— Jack (@itsjackknight) January 14, 2023
The GC Turf Club should be ashamed. Sorry, but its their one day and they’ve completely cocked it up. #MagicMillions #GoldCoast
— Jack Johnstone (@JackJBet) January 14, 2023
“In accordance with industry policy, jockeys were asked to undertake a secret ballot, which resulted in a majority decision to withdraw their services due to poor visibility and wet weather. QRIC Stewards have taken this under advisement and moved to postpone the event.
“Racing Queensland and the Gold Coast Turf Club will determine the new date of the meeting.”
After rain fell for a solid two hours before the meeting started, the jockeys, stewards and track curators chose to delay the start of race two after there were concerns raised about visibility and the track condition after race one.
Leading Australian jockeys and elder statesmen Larry Cassidy and Craig Williams were the two hoops in attendance on track as they inspected the last 600m and especially that 400m to 300m spot, where the wet patch of the track had been identified earlier on.
After the inspection jockeys were undecided as to whether they thought the track was safe enough for all participants, therefore, the jockeys and the stewards agreed to race the second race of the day, The Debut Plate, and agreed to have another meeting about the track after every race.
However in The Debut Plate, James McDonald reported that his mount – Desperately – slipped as she rounded the home turn and from then on it was a foregone conclusion that this meeting had to be postponed to another date.
In race one, the Magic Millions Country Cup over 1200m, Cody Morgan and Jamie Kah combined for their first Magic Millions win of their careers with Ezekiel running away from his rivals to record an easy 3.5 length victory.
The Magic Millions The Debut 2YO Plate over 900m was taken out by Koby Jennings and Nathan Doyle as they combined with Rush Hour to win, before the meeting was postponed.
The magic millions race day is an event we should be proud to host and absolutely agree when unsafe conditions it should be postponed however we didn’t have abnormal amounts of rain maybe someone watered the track too much? The day began to disintegrate before we even entered the track roads into the track were blocked off and no safe places to drop off passengers taxis stopping and saying hop out here…members stand was standing room only bars over crowded and very few staff…inadequate catering for the amount of patrons all decked out in their finest and standing for hours to watch 2 races you couldn’t see the screens properly juggling a drink if you were lucky enough or patient enough to wait minimum half hour in a queue. Staff directed patrons leaving to a taxi uber area around the corner and we had to dodge frightened horses with their strappers trying to escape and find their trailers..booked taxis just didn’t arrive they were picked up by people waving fifties at them to stop..poor organisation from the start ruined a wonderful experience for punters and locals